Early Childhood (0 to 5 years) Presents the Greatest Risk for Facial Dog Bites

Area of Science:

• Pediatric trauma
• Public health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Dog bites are a significant cause of pediatric injury.
• Facial dog bites can lead to severe aesthetic and psychological consequences.
• Understanding risk factors is crucial for effective prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare facial dog bite characteristics with body dog bites in children.
• To identify independent risk factors for pediatric facial dog bites in the US.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study utilizing the Kids' Inpatient Database.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine independent risk factors.
• Statistical significance set at P < 0.05.

Main Results:

• Out of 9,057 pediatric dog bite cases, 32.2% were facial injuries.
• Children aged 0-5 years had the highest odds (OR 5.7) of facial dog bites compared to 16-20 year olds.
• Emergency admissions were associated with 2.5 times higher odds of facial dog bites.

Conclusions:

• Young children (0-5 years) face the greatest risk for facial dog bites.
• Emergency hospital admissions correlate with a higher incidence of facial dog bites.
• Implementing established preventative measures is essential to reduce facial dog bite risks and associated long-term psychological effects.